Velocipede



2 Sheets-Sheet 1. O. E. BUELL.

(No Model.)

VELOGIPBliE.

Patented Dec. 1, 1885.

INVENTOR 64% 5044M WITNESSES I (No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. O. E. BUELL.

VELOGIPEDE.

Patented Dec. 1, 1885.

INVENTOR N'lTE TATES ArEN'r Fries.

CHARLES E. BUELL, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR ()F ON E- THIRD TO lVILKING B. OOOLEY, OF EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

'VELOCIPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 331,276, dated December 1, 1885.

Application filed October 16, 1884. Serial No. 145,649. (No model.)

T 60% whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES E. BUELL, of the city of Springfield, county of Hainpden, State of Massachusetts, have invented Improvements in Propelling Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to propelling tricycles and other similar vehicles.

My invention consists, primarily, in the i0 combination, with a tricycle, of a holder removably attached thereto, a motor or engine adapted to be made operative" by compressed air to propel said vehicle, and means for con- .necting said holder to said motor that are r 5 provided with mechanism for controlling the flow of air between said holder and said motor, the whole arranged substantially as hereinafter described.

My invention further consists in certain combinations and sub-combinations, to be hereinafter described.

Figure 1 shows atricycle in front elevation arranged according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a View of a detailed part of my invention. Fig. 4 is aview in perspective of a tricycle arranged according to my invention.

In the accompanying drawings the same letters and figures refer to corresponding parts in each.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, A is a tricycle of any preferred construction, having a holder, B, attached thereto in such a manner as to be readily removed therefrom, for purposes which will be hereinafter mentioned. A rotary motor or engine, 0, is shown rigidly secured to the frame-work of the tricycle, and connected to revolve the axle a when in motion. The motor 0 has a throttle-valve, with lever h for 40 controlling a supply of air to the motor when the valve V has been turned to allow the air to pass from the charged holder B through the tube D to the motor 0. The tube D is adapted to be connected and disconnected with 5 the valve V, for obvious purposes. By having the holder B of steel, or otherwise made light and strong, and having it removably attached to the vehicle, several charged holders may be successively placed upon the vehicle and successively connected to the motor by the tube 1), which is common to the several holders. The valve V, being made a part of the holder B, serves to retain the charge of air in its respective holder until it is required to be used. A lantern, L, is shown suspended below the exhaust I) of the motor 0 in such a manner as to light the path of the vehicle, and

at the same time to keep the exhaust warmed with obvious advantages.

Fig. 8 shows the frame f of a tricycle made hollow and adapted to hold a supply of compressed air for propelling the motor 0 O, which is a double oscillating engine provided with a throttle-valve and handle h. The valve V serves for connecting the frame f to a compressing apparatus to be charged, and to connect the frame f with a holder that is charged, and the contents of which is to serve as an auxiliary supply of air when the charge in the frame f becomes exhausted.

Fig. 4 represents a tricycle having an oscillating engine, 0, adapted to propel the vehicle by operating the treadlecrank T T. The holder B is shown removably attached to the vehicle and connected to the frame f in a manner to serve as an auxiliary air-supply. The chamber B is provided with a valve, V, and the frame f is also provided with a valve, V, the valves on the chamber and frame being connected by a tube, D.

WVhen it is desired to use the contents of the holder B to operate the engine and to hold the compressed air stored in the frame f as a reserve supply, the valve Y being closed, the holder B should be connected to the portion of the frame at X by a conducting-tube like that shown in Fig. 1 for connecting the holder to the engine. By thus connecting it the supply of air to the engine will be under control of the throttle-valve with lever h. By this means holders may be used successively upon a tricycle, and a reserve supply for cases of emergency may be carried without adding to the weight or bulk of the vehicle. Tricycles arranged in this manner may be worked by power of compressed air, or by the treadles T T, in which latter case the piston-rod 19 may be detached from the crank d.

When the holder B is suitably constructed of steel, it may be charged with a supply of 100 air suffieient to propel a tricycle several miles,

and as a number of charged holders may be successively used with a single tricycle, owners of tricycles may be supplied with several charged holders, which may be replenished from time to time.

I contemplate employing a safety-valve (not shown) of compact form, connected to the tricycle in such a manner that its use may be common to several holders used successively. Any preferred form of motor or engine adapted to be operated by compressed air may be used in place of those shown.

Although I have confined my description to the use of compressed air, as I prefer its use to that of gas or hydrocarbon distillates, I may use gas compressed in receptacles that are removably attached, and herein described as holders, and as a motor employ a gasengine of the type known as the Shipman, Brayton, or Otto engine, without departing from my invention.

What I claim is 1. The combination, with a tricycle, of the holder B, provided with a valve, V, and removably attached to said tricycle, an engine mounted upon said tricycle and adapted to propel said tricycle, and means for connecting said holder B to supply said engine, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a tricycle, of the holder B, removably attached thereto, an engine mounted on said tricycle, and means for connecting said holder B'to supply said engine that are provided at two points with devices for controlling the flow of air from said holder B to said engine.

for connecting said holder B and said frame successively to said engine to supply it with air for propelling said vehicle.

5. The combination, with a vehicle having a hollow frame charged with compressed air, of the holder B, removably attached to said vehicle and portable therewith, an engine mounted on said vehicle, and suitable means for connecting said holder B and said frame successively to said engine to supply it with air for propelling said vehicle, and added means for controlling the flow of air to said engine.

6. The combination, with a vehicle, of the holder B, provided with a valve, V, removably attached to said vehicle, an engine mounted upon said vehicle and adapted to propel said vehicle, means for connecting said holder B to supply said engine, and independent devices for propelling said vehicle by foot-power, substantially as described.

CHARLES E. BUELL.

' Witnesses:

W. B. CooLEY, GEO. M. Locnwoon. 

